Loo-Lee.com

• 09Feb

  ARTICLE: Android News: Flash 10.1, Speech Translation, and Gingerbread

  Industry, News No Comments

  Three bits of news for you Android enthusiasts out there:

  - Flash Player 10.1 is coming to Android devices. But ONLY to those running OS 2.1 and above. Adobe said their long awaited 10.1 update will hit desktops and smartphones in the "first half" of this year, according to Gizmodo. But Android users are gonna gotta get 2.1 or better to run it because Android 2.0 and lower doesn't provide Adobe the under-the-hood tools they need to make Flash 10.1 go. Ah, yes, the joys of Android OS version splintering never stop! Oh, and when it hits, Flash 10.1 will roll out to Android users via over the air updates.

  - Apparently Google's Android naming scheme is based not only on dessert names, but also on alphabetical order: Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo ... and next comes ... Gingerbread!

  - Next up for Google mobile devices? Speech-to-speech translation. Seriously, that's like science fiction stuff, a handheld computer that can listen to you speak French and re-speak it to me in English, and vice-versa. Crazy.

  [Via: Gizmodo, Engadget, Times UK]

  
  

  

  Tags: blog, cell phone news, discussion, mobile

• 09Feb

  ARTICLE: PhoneDog Media: What’s happening on TiP, BBerryDog, and DroidDog

  Industry, News No Comments

  PhoneDog just can't cram every bit of analysis, in-depth coverage, and tip/trick/how-to goodness onto our home page. So we've built a few more home pages to hold it all.  Whether it's Android, BlackBerry, or iPhone that makes you tick, we've got the goods.

  Here's what's happening right now on PhoneDog Media's network sites: Today's iPhone, BBerryDog and DroidDog
  
  
  
  App Review: Model Me Going Places
  
  Can your iPhone keep you safe?
  
  iPhone 2010 faceplate shows up?
  
  
  
  
  Trackball replacement program delayed by T-Mobile
  
  BlackBerry 9650 Visual Voicemail file spotted online
  
  Official OS: 5.0.0.459 BlackBerry 8530 from Sprint
  
  
  
  
  Motorola DROID 2.1 update rollout will begin this week
  
  MyTouch 3G 1.2 shipping with Swype
  
  Get tub-side with Motorola
  
  
  

  
  

  

  Tags: blog, cell phone news, discussion, mobile

• 09Feb

  ARTICLE: Google launches technical support number for Nexus One

  Industry, News No Comments

  

  After ordering the Nexus One for one of my personal accounts, I can safely say that the disconnect between T-Mobile and Google is astonishing (and when I say "astonishing," it's not a compliment).  If you read my article on how to order the device, you're well-aware of the challenges.  I'm not an analyst by any means, but the issues between existing accounts, family share plans, and the like could be a serious detriment to the sales success of the Nexus One. 

  That being said, Google took a step forward in the customer service process yesterday by launching a technical support number.  Open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM (EST), 1-888-48-NEXUS (63987) is your one-stop shop for device issues.  Finally, Nexus One customers have more than a support forum to discuss their problems.  Let's hope that the addition of a technical support number is Google's way of saying "we're working on our customer service because we realize that a viable technical support department is crucial for the success of the device."

  (And congratulations on your Nexus One order, Mr. Dong.  I hope you enjoy it.)

  Via TmoNews

  
  

  

  Tags: blog, cell phone news, discussion, mobile

• 09Feb

  ARTICLE: Buzz Buzz: Google launches Buzz for real-time mobile and desktop sharing

  Industry, News No Comments

  

  Google held a press event this morning to launch Google Buzz, their new system for real-time sharing of everything from Twitter-style conversations to photos and other media. Buzz will exist inside of Google's GMail interface, but the company also introduced three new location-aware mobile products:

  - Google Buzz via m.Google.com homepage for Android and iPhone

  - Mobile App: buzz.google.com

  - Buzz-enabled Google Maps for Symbian, Windows Mobile, Android

  I'm hard-pressed just yet to figure out exactly what Buzz is, wants to, or will be, but it also seems to be Google's attempt to destroy twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Yelp! and Flickr/Photobucket all at the same time. There's twitter-like public sharing and closed-group private sharing of test, photos, links, and other media. There's location-aware maps and social networking on the go via the mobile versions of buzz. There's some kind of "get the buzz on what's around you" that seems like it might be a mashup of Foursquare's "checking in" and Yelp!s user reviews.

  And there's some kind of Enterprise product, as well.

  More as we, uh, figure out what's going on here.

  Any of you who've been following the Buzz (sorry, had to make the pun), what's your take? Is Google Buzz buzzworthy?

  
  

  

  Tags: blog, cell phone news, discussion, mobile

• 09Feb

  ARTICLE: Better iPad: Notion Ink Adam Tablet details sound nice

  Industry, News No Comments

  

  Notion Ink's Adam tablet computer is probably the most interesting product on my "when's it gonna launch?" radar. Though I'm currently more excited about iPad just because it actually has a price and ship date, Adam brings all kinds of specs, tech, and potential to the table with its Android-driven, dual-mode display technology.

  If you're not yet familiar with Adam, check out my post-CES writeup on it.

  Notion Ink CEO Rohan Shravan had a chat with SlashGear the other day and told them all kinds of awesome-sounding new things about Adam that make me excited and give plenty of fuel for iPad-haters fires all at the same time:

  - Adam will have at least double the battery life of iPad, thanks to its NVIDIA Tegra chipset and Pixel Qi screen, which can switch between full-color LCD and low-power e-Ink depending on what the user is doing.

  - Adam will rock Flash - hopefully from the get go.

  - Adam will be able to output 1080p video (via HDMI, I presume), versus iPad's 480p/576p limit.

  Shravan also apparently knows that specs aren't everything and content is still king in many parts of the land. So his company is setting up a $1 Million competition to encourage developers to write apps for the new Adam platform.

  For the record, the "Better iPad" part of the title of this post is half serious, half questioning, and half sarcastic (yeah, I know, that's three halves). On paper, Adam sounds awesome. On paper, iPad sounds to many like an underpowered gimmick. But if there's one thing covering consumer tech for a bunch of years has taught me, it's that "on paper" is meaningless. The proof is in the pudding, or in this case, in the review loaner. I can't wait for Adam to actually launch so I can actually try it out and actually tell you if it's actually any good or not. Same for iPad. And oh yeah, that JooJoo thingy. And all the more so once developers and content providers start 

  But on paper? 1080p + Flash + dual-mode display technology = Pretty cool.

  
  

  

  Tags: blog, cell phone news, discussion, mobile

• 09Feb

  ARTICLE: Google reduces Nexus One ‘equipment recovery fee’ to $150

  Industry, News No Comments

  

  In an effort to quell user complaints about the company's high "equipment recovery fee" (in addition to T-Mobile's early termination fee, nonetheless), Google has dropped the fee from $350 to $150 for those that cancel their contracts in the first 120 days.  That being said, that's still $350 total to pay to Google and T-Mobile ($150 and $200, respectively) - still too high, in my opinion.  The move comes after the FCC sent letters to the nationwide wireless carriers and Google, probing them for more information on their early termination fee policies.

  Via Phone Scoop

   

  
  

  

  Tags: blog, cell phone news, discussion, mobile

• 09Feb

  Feature Navigation for Nokia’s Ovi Maps

  Industry, News No Comments

  Google Maps is often the navigation system of choice for those without a stand alone satellite navigation device or mobile GPS. Nokia’s Ovi maps had been somewhat overshadowed in the GPS stakes. However, the announcement that it is now free may just tip the scales. In preparation for the flock of Nokia converts we’ve tried and tested the Ovi system to ensure you get the most out of your mapping freebie.

  So what exactly is Nokia offering? Well, there are a load of different features all sheltering under the Ovi Map umbrella. Obviously there’s the map feature allowing you to see your current location, browse landscapes, search for places, and plan routes. Then there’s the navigation system, a search toolbar to find local places of interest as well as weather updates and various guides from different sources including Lonely Planet and Michelin. Some of these features only work in online mode meaning data charges will apply, as do navigational fees but we’ll tackle these when we get to them. (more…)

  Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

  Tags: blog, cell phone news, discussion, mobile

• 09Feb

  HTC Legend Makes Its On-Camera Debut

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  Previously appearing only in text form on the HTC’s 2010 roadmap and as a pretty render mid-December, the HTC Legend has now graduated to actual, real mobile phone with its first appearance on camera.  And for once, the photographer has used autofocus. It always had a good look to it, but seeing it here gives the impression the Legend will be a sturdy beast, and an attractive one too provided they keep that ‘hewn from a solid piece of metal’ look to it.

  It’s looking very similar to the render, with a set of hardware keys below the screen and an optical trackpad where there would normally be a trackball.  Otherwise the Legend’s rumoured specification hasn’t changed, with a 3.2″ AMOLED touchscreen - capacitive rather than resistive too -  a 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS and a MicroSD card slot being the standout features.

  The one thing the new pictures do show is the Hero-replacement running HTC Sense, which although highly likely, had not previously cropped up in conversation, but we’re still not sure which version of Android it will be topping.  The likelihood of the Legend showing up at Mobile World Congress is very high, although the March release date being talked of seems a little early.

  Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

  Tags: blog, cell phone news, discussion, mobile

• 09Feb

  Is the iPhone Getting Bigger?

  Industry, News No Comments
  

  Images are floating around the net of a supposed iPhone 4G or at least parts of it. If the shots are to be believed then the next iPhone edition will be bigger than the current smartphone darling, the iPhone 3GS.

  With the growing trend of slab-like Smartphones hitting the shelves, this was to be expected (although we still think we’ll be seeing the iPhone mini soon). iResQ, an iPhone repair site have supposedly captured the images of the iPhone 4G and measured it at a whole quarter of an inch bigger than the 3GS.

  Obviously, as with every unofficial morsel that’s spat out we are a little more than sceptical to say the least, especially since the images show no signs of branding and are pretty poor quality. However, there’s no harm in taking a stroll down the rumour trail every now and again, because you just never know what you’re going to stumble across!

  Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

  Tags: blog, cell phone news, discussion, mobile

• 09Feb

  LG Officially Announce the GD880, Known as the Mini

  Industry, News No Comments

  Adding ‘Mini’ to your latest mobile phone seems to be the thing to do these days and LG are continuing the trend with the GD880 Mini, which according to them, is the smallest phone available with a 3.2″ screen.  One of our current favourites, the LG Pop, is said to be the smallest phone with a 3″ screen, so this should perhaps be seen as the first step up from the Pop.

  Here are the top features:

  • The 3.2″ touchscreen.
  • A 5 megapixel camera with video and face recognition software.
  • Wi-Fi and GPS.
  • 3G with HSDPA.

  As with the majority of new phones, social networking features heavily.  In addition to standard applications for Twitter and Facebook, the LG Mini has two new social network features to boost integration.  The first is the Social Address Book, which works in a similar way to MOTOBLUR and Palm’s Synergy, where social networking updates appear with their relevant contact in your address book, then there is Social Network Feed, which automatically displays updates on your home screen too.

  The LG Mini will be available in Europe from March and although no pricing has been given, Dr. Skott Ahn - LG Mobile CEO - says that the Mini gives ‘great looks at a reasonable price’, so we can expect a competitive one.   It’s likely to be more than the Pop, but we like the Mini’s comprehensive set of features and the very sleek, button-less casing, giving the phone considerable potential as a big seller.

  Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

  Tags: blog, cell phone news, discussion, mobile

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